ROCK HALL: Fan Vote Recap - Week Seven
Cyndi Lauper has overtaken Soundgarden for fourth place in the seventh week of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Fan Vote while everyone else remains the same. With close to two-million votes cast, the complete order and number of votes, rounded up, is as follows:
1.Phish - 261,500
2.Bad Company - 202,000
3.Billy Idol - 193,000
4.Cyndi Lauper - 173,500
5.Soundgarden - 173,000
6.Joe Cocker - 168,500
7.Chubby Checker - 148,500
8.Black Crowes - 124,500
9.Mariah Carey - 111,000
10.Joy Division + New Order - 91,000
11.The White Stripes - 85,500
12.Outkast - 84,000
13.Oasis - 79,000
14.Mana - 29,000
You can vote once a day through April 21st at RockHall.com. The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2025 Inductees.
Roger Daltrey Offers Humorous Health Update From The Stage
While performing with the Who at Royal Albert Hall over the weekend, Roger Daltrey let fans know how his age and health are affecting his rock n' roll lifestyle. The 81-year-old frontman stopped to tell the crowd, "The joys of getting old mean you go deaf, I also now have got the joy of going blind. Fortunately, I still have my voice, because then I’ll have a full Tommy." He was referring, of course, to the band's rock opera "Tommy" and the "deaf, dumb and blind kid" at the center of the story. The effects of age aside, the band still rocked the house to
benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Who have been central to the charity's annual benefit concert for the last 25 years. They have said this would be their last one, though the annual event is fully expected to continue.
RINGO: With a Little Help FOR His Friends
Ringo Starr has released a live version of The Beatles' “With a Little Help From My Friends” from this past January at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in order to help others. 100% of all global streaming revenue generated by the song from last Friday through March 27th of next year will equally support the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity ReBUILDLA to help those impacted by this year’s California wildfires. Ringo says, “I love L.A. and have lived there for many years, and while we were recording this in Nashville, many of us had family and friends who were dealing with the wildfires in Los Angeles. It was so great performing this song with these incredible artists and we all wanted to do something to help. I think the song says it all really, 'With A Little Help From My Friends' and we send it to all those affected by the fires with Peace and Love.”
Among the friends who joined him on the song at the Ryman were Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Mickey Guyton, Emmylou Harris, Brenda Lee, Billy Strings and Jack White.
The song is now available across all streaming platforms.
PINK FLOYD: Should Have Looked at the Bright Side
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has one regret when looking back over the band's career.
He tells Rolling Stone, "If one could play the whole thing back all over again, we probably should have taken longer, we should have spent more time playing The Dark Side of the Moon live and not worried about going back into the studio to make Wish You Were Here.
“We actually spent quite a long time in the studio having not a great time when we could have just actually drawn things out a bit longer, done more live work and filmed it.” You can see behind-the-scenes footage of Floyd beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios in their 1972 film Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII, which heads back to theaters and IMAX screens beginning April 24th. The film will be accompanied on May 2nd by the soundtrack album on CD, vinyl, digital and, for the first time, in Dolby Atmos.
ERIC CLAPTON: "God" Is 80
Eric Clapton celebrated a milestone birthday Sunday when he turned 80. The three-time member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — with The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist — was born Eric Patrick Clapton in Ripley, England on March 30th, 1945 and raised by his grandparents. He never knew his father and was a teenager when he learned that the woman he believed to be his sister was, in fact, his mother. He first came to prominence as a member of The Yardbirds before going on to play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and then Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. That was followed by Blind Faith with Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker, and then it was on to Derek and the Dominos before embarking on a solo career in 1970.
A recovering alcoholic and drug abuser, Clapton opened the Crossroads rehab facility on the Caribbean island of Antigua in the late '90s, and has done many charitable appearances to fund it. He is married for the second time, having said "I do" to American Melia McEnery in 2001. They have three daughters, and he has a fourth daughter from a previous relationship. Eric's four-year-old son Conor died in 1991 after falling out of a New York apartment window.
In 2004, Clapton was made Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. Still going strong, he starts a an eight-night residency at the Budokan in Tokyo on April 14th, followed by dates in England, Italy and France in May, and six in the U.S. in September.
Yes Is Working On A New Album
Rock N' Roll Hall Of Famers Yes aren't even close to slowing down yet. Keyboardist Geoff Downes has confirmed that the band is once again in the studio, working on their third album of new material since 2021. "We've been working on an album for the past six months," Downes says. "Steve [Howe] is at the helm and I think it will be out later in the year." This will be the first album for the band since 2023's "Mirror In The Sky."
A rare studio recording of Yes playing The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby has surfaced online
Rare audio of Yes playing a version of The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby has emerged online. The recording, made in February 1969 during sessions at Polydor Studios in London with producer John Anthony, was uploaded to YouTube last week. The performance features a faster tempo and a psychedelic intro from guitarist Peter Banks and keyboardist Tony Kaye. The recording has never been publicly released before, and there may be more such recordings to come. Yes signed with Atlantic Records a month after the recording and released their self-titled debut album four months later.
Elton John, Brandi Carlile Announce Short Film Documenting Creation Of Collaborative Album
Elton John and Brandi Carlile are announcing the world premiere of "Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge Of Creation."The short film gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of each off from their forthcoming collaborative album, "Who Believes In Angels?" It'll feature footage of the singers in the studio showing fans a glimpse of their process. The premier is scheduled for April 4th, at 92-NY and will be followed by a conversation moderated by Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger with John, Carlile, Bernie Taupin, and Andrew Watt. The filma and Q-and-A session will be available on YouTube on April 5th.
FOREIGNER: Farewell to Who?
One would hope that anyone buying a ticket to see Foreigner on their Farewell Tour knows that, for the most part, you are seeing a cover band. Founder and guitarist Mick Jones is no longer able to tour due to Parkinson's disease, and former original members Lou Gramm and
Al Greenwood, along with bassist Rick Wills, who joined for their third album, 1979's Head Games, are only playing select dates. Now add to this what was reported last week. Singer
Kelly Hansen, who joined in 2005, will not take part in this year's Latin American and Canadian tours due to what he says are "residency issues [that] have forced me to limit appearances outside of the U.S.A. this year and this means that I will miss some international shows."
He will be replaced in Canada by Geordie Brown, the male lead in the Canadian production of the band's Juke Box Hero, The Musical. And in Latin America, Luis Maldonado, their guitarist since 2021, will fill in with help from Gramm on select songs. Hansen was born and raised in the U.S. so we're not sure what "residency issues" he's up against, unless his passport expired or he's been denied a work visa. We've reached out to the band's spokeswoman and management but have yet to hear back.
KEVIN CRONIN: Can't Fight the Feeling of Being Left Out
Former REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin is upset with not being part of the band's June 14th reunion show in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois. He says, "The organizers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate. Instead, they chose June 14th, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and the Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon. "Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can’t possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this. "After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded. "[And] 35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt were not even shown the respect of being invited to the Champaign event."
That event, Back Where It All Began, will feature band founder and keyboardist Neal Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, bassist Bruce Hall, guitarist Steve Scorfina, and singers Terry Luttrell and Mike Murphy, with an in memoriam segment for guitarist Gary Richrath and bassist Gregg Philbin. Hall, who along with Doughty and Cronin, owns the name REO Speedwagon, says, "So excited for this ONE night only event, back where it all began, in MY hometown! Looking forward to reminiscing, rockin' with the founding fathers and saying a proper goodbye. Most importantly, this celebration benefits the REO Speedwagon Foundation for rare GU cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center. I truly believe Gary is proud and smiling down on us. Let's rock!"
The decision to retire the REO name last year came about after Cronin wanted to continue without Hall, who was sidelined with a back injury that required surgery. Doughty and Hall voted against Cronin's continuing under that name unless Hall was part of the lineup.
BTO Drops First New Song In 25 Years
Bachmann-Turner Overdrive is once again takin' care of business. The legendary Canadian band released their first new music in 25 years Friday. "60 Years Ago" features not only the band but a fellow Canadian legend. As Randy Bachmann says in a statement, “As a thank-you to Winnipeg, the city that shaped us, I wrote a song called ‘60 Years Ago.’ It features Tal Bachman, KoKo Bachman, and me, with Fred Turner on vocals, and features an incredible guitar solo from Neil Young. This song is our tribute to Winnipeg, the place where we grew up as teenagers in the ’60s.
The Sex Pistols Announce North American Tour Dates
A week after a surprise show at London's 100 Club, the Sex Pistols have announced they're crossing the pond and bringing their anarchy to the U.S. this fall. It'll be the first time the iconic punk band has toured the States since 2003, and they'll be playing their legendary album "Never Mind The [ ], Here's The Sex Pistols" in its entirety. Pre-sales start tomorrow ahead of the general sale this Friday at 10am local time. See the first ten dates below, and visit Ticketmaster for ticket purchasing information.
Sept 16 – Dallas @ Longhorn Ballroom
Sept 23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Sept 26 – Philadelphia @ Fillmore
Sept 27 – Brooklyn, NY @ TBD
Sept 30 – Montreal @ Mtelus
Oct 1 – Toronto @ History
Oct 3 – Cleveland
Oct 4 – Detroit @ Fillmore
Oct 7 – Minneapolis @ Fillmore
Oct 10 – Denver @ Mission Ballroom
Graceland To Celebrate Elvis Week 2025
Graceland is celebrating the life, music and legacy of Elvis Presley with "Elvis Week 2025." It's going down from August 8th through the 16th in Memphis. It'll be a week of live performance, panels, contests, movie screenings and the annual Candlelight Vigil. The ceremony will be available for fans to stream live online. Tickets and a complete lineup of all Elvis Week events can be found on ElvisWeek.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
David Bowie’s childhood home in Bromley in Greater London is on the market. His family moved there in 1953 when he was six and stayed there for one year. It’s listed at just over $582,000.
Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony have posted a video of them discussing Van Halen’s first album with Hagar, 5150, which celebrated its 39th anniversary last week – March 24th. Anthony also posted a video recognizing the 45th anniversary of the release of Van Halen’s third album, Women and Children First, which came out on March 26th, 1980.
Geddy Lee has posted on Instagram the cover of his next book, 72 Stories: From the Baseball Collection of Geddy Lee, along with a little description. He says, “In 72 Stories, I share my passion for the game and the stories behind some of my favourite baseballs and other items from that collection… A lively personal tour through cultural and sports history, illustrated with more than 180 color photographs, 72 Stories is a delightful and loving tribute to the game.” It will be published on June 10th.
Styx will follow-up this summer’s Brotherhood of Rock tour with Kevin Cronin and Don Felder by doing six dates in November with Loverboy opening. Styx and REO Speedwagon
toured with Loverboy in 2022 on their Live and UnZoomed tour.
38 Special recently performed at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in Lake Buena Vista, Florida doing six shows in two days. And who should walk on stage before one of their sets? A duck. The band posted a video, which they captioned with, “We were especially grateful for the best opening act tonight! Only at Disney.”
John Mellencamp has posted on his website audio files of him reciting three of his songs – “Chasing Rainbows,” “Minutes to Memories,” and “Walk Tall.”